Automatic phonograph record selecting mechanism



N. c. CUMMINGS 2,240,609

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECORD SELECTING MECHANISM Filed cat. 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 jnucnfou w zmmiv M, M 995% I y 1941- N. c. CUMMINGS 2,240,609

AUTOMATIC -PHONOGRAPH RECORD ,SELECTING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet2 7157.51 Q 4; 37 355 22 a f 2 I 2/ 22 y 95 id A? r y 1941- :(c. CUMMINGS 2,240,609

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECORD SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 6, 1941. N. c. CUMMINGS AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECORD SELECTING MECHANISM Fil ed Oct. 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 6,1941 N. c. CUMMKNGS AUTOMATIC YHONOGRAPH RECORD SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fer/CZ gnmcnto'a i and playing a record or series of records.

Patented Mayo, 1941 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECDRD SELECTING MECHANISM Norbert C. Cummings, Washington, D. 0., minor to Phonograph Advertising Service, Incorporated, Washington, Maryland 0., a corporation of Application October 16, 1939, Serial No. 299,744

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic phonographs and is a continuation-in-part of my earlier ,application Serial No. 244,841. The invention relates particularly to phonographs of the type'having means for supporting a plurality of phonograph records and. means for selecting Many such phonographs are well known and have gone into wide public use in taverns, restaurants, dance halls and like places, Such phonographs comprise, generally, the usual turntable and soundproducing means, means for supporting a plurality of records in such a manner that the records may be selectively or serially disposed on "he turntable, played, and returned to normal position, .manually operable mean whereby a patron may select a record or a group of records to be played, a motor'for driving the aforesaid mechanism, and coin controlled means for closing the provision of novel means, in combination with the known selecting mechanism of such phonographs, for automatically and periodically starting up the phonograph and causing a particular record to be played.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of the type described which will not interrupt a record which is being played at the time when the automatic selecting device is energizedpbut which will permit the playing of such record to be completed, after which the preselected record associated with the present invention will be played. The device of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that, if the pre-selected record is played intermediate aseries of records which have been manually selected by a patron; the remaining records of the series will be played following the playing of the pre-selected record, without the necessity of any further manipulation by the patron or others.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is simple in construction, inexpensive, ,and may be quickly and easily installed in the phonograph.

Certain of the automatic phonographs now in wide use include record selecting mechanism which comprises a movable member adapted by the extent of its movement to control the selection of a record, and means for selectively stopping the-movement of such movable member in accordance with the desires of the patron. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide means for automatically and periodically actuating said movable member, and means for stopping said movable member in the position corresponding to the particular record which it is the purpose of the present invention to play.

To this end it is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a phonograph ofthe type described, selecting means comprising a movable member and a plurality of manually operative selector elements cooperative with said movable member for selectively limiting the movement of the latter, an auxiliary selector element adapted to engage the movable member and limiting its movementfor selecting a particular record, and means for periodically establishing a cooperative relation between the movable member and the auxiliary selector element.

A further object isthe provision of an automatic selecting device in accordance .with the foregoing object, together with means for temporarily interrupting the cooperative relation of the movable member and the manually operative selector elements.

Another object is the provision, in a phonograph of the type described, of an automatic selecting and actuating device which will be prevented from operating during the brief period in which the'phonograph is changing a record in response to an manual selection, but will go into operation immediately thereafter and thus insure that the pre-selected record will be played following the record which has been manually selected.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a phonograph mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of that portion of the mechanism which comprises the principal features of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the mechanism in a different operative position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, looking from the opposite direction; of the mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the device of Figures 2-4; 2gimme 6 is a top viewof the device of Figures Figure 7 is a rear elevation eta portion of the .mechanism of a different type of phonograph portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure '7,

showing the record selecting mechanism with the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a portion of the record selecting mechanism of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of the mechanism of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 8, illustrating partly the manually. operative selector elements;

Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the record selecting mechanism of Figure 7;

and

Figure 13 is a conventional circuit diagram illustrating the electrical circuits employed in connection with the modification illustrated in Figures 7-12.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive langugage is employed. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended andthat various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Asbest seen in Figure 1, the instant invention, in its first illustrative embodiment, is shown as applied to a, phonograph of the type described in Patent No. 2,002,236, granted'to R. I. Wilcox, but it is understood that the present invention may be equally well applied to other types of phonographs.

Referring to Figure 1, the phonograph mechanism comprises genera 11y a motor I00, a motor shaft IN, a vertical shaft I02, carrying a, turntable I03, a cam shaft I04, and a selector shaft I2. There is also a record holding assembly indicated generally at A, the movements of the records into and out of playing position being effected through the medium of a vertical shaft I05. The shafts I02, I04, I2-and I05 are driven from the motor shaft |0| in the manner fully described in said Patent No. 2.002,236, and this mechanism need not be further described herein, but it will be understood that when the expression conventional is hereinafter employed, it is intended to refer to the mode of operation set forth in said prior patent. I 6

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown therein the customary manually operated selector elements I0 mounted in a chassis II in the customary manner. There is also shown a selector shaft I2 with a cancelling bracket assembly generally indicated at I3, the shaft and assembly being similar to that shown in said Patent No. 2,002,236 but, as shown herein, having certain parts removed and others added to perform the "functions of this invention as set forth in the objects of the invention stated above.

To carry out the present invention, there is provided a rotary contact device l4 affixed to the shaft I2 and electrically connected by flexible wires to an electromagnet I5 which is, in turn, mounted by means. of a bolt I6 or the like upon an inner bracket I1 which is rigidly held within an outer 'U-shaped bracket Iflby means of a bolt I9.

At the upper ends of the brackets and extending through the same is slidably mounted a conoverlie the core 3| of the magnet I5.

tact shaft 20 which is yieldably held in normal position by means of a snap washer 2| and a coil spring 22 which bears against the inner side of the inner bracket H at one end and .the snap washer 2| at the other end.

To an annular integral extension 23 at the upper end of the inner bracket I1 is pivotally mounted by means of a shoulder bolt 24 a normally horizontally extending stop arm 25 which,

in normal condition, is held in position by means of a downwardly extending latch member 26 which is pivotally mounted upon ear extensions 21 protruding from the inner bracket I1 by means of a pin or shaft 28.

The stop arm 25 is held against the latch 26 when in normal condition by means of a spring 29 which interconnects it and theinner bracket I1.

Formed integrally with the latch 26 is an outwardly extending portion 30 which is adapted to Pivotally mounted upon cars 32 by means of a pin 33 is a normally horizontally extending resetting arm 34 having a depending lug-.35 which is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 36 in which is adapted to move a stud 31 which is aflixed to through a slot 39 as best shown in Figure 5.

Aspring 40 abuts one ear 21 and is so mounted as to urge the latch 26 clockwise as shown in Figure 5 and its upper end against the stop arm 25 as best shown in Figure 2.

The upper end of the latch 26 is split vertically for a portion of its length as indicated at 4| and one of the two divided portions thus-formed is cut to a shorter length 42 than the other and bent slightly inwardly to engage the lower side of the stop arm 25, the longer portion 43 bein adapted to abut the stop arm 25 and thus align the portion 42 with the bottom of the arm 25.

A bracket assembly actuating arm 44, which is actuated upon each rotation of the cam shaft, as fully described in said Patent No. 2,002,236, is adapted to move the assembly I3' against the action of a spring 45 which surrounds the shaft I2 and abuts the bracket I8.at one end and a bar 46 at the other end. The bar, 46 is rigidly affixed to the shaft I2 by means of a pin 41 and carries adjacent one end a pin 48 mounted in parallelism with the shaft I2 and extending through an opening in the outer bracket I8.

A timing mechanism 49, a source of power 50 and a magazine switch or starting mechanism "5| are electrically interconnected by wires as indicated schematically in Figure 1. The function of the magazine switch is to control the circuit including the motor I00, as set forth in said prior patent.

In operation, when the predetermined time period has elapsed, the timing device 49 will supply'current momentarily to the magazine switch 5| and the magnet I5 by mechanisms in the timing device not shown herein and not forming a part of the present invention.

Such action, with respect to the magazine switch, starts the standard phonograph mechanisms into motion, and, with respect to the magnet I5, energizes the same, thus causing the outwardly extending portion 30 of the latch 26 to move downwardly thereby releasing the latch from engagement with the stop arm 25, thus allowing the spring 29 to cause the stop arm 25 to move downwardly into the position shown in Figure 4.

In this position it will be apparent that the free end of the stop arm will now travel, upon rotation 5 of the shaft I2, in a different orbit from that of the contact shaft 20, whereupon it will be seen that the free end of the arm must, upon suflicient rotation, engage an auxiliary selector element 52 carried by a plate 53 mounted upon the inner end L N The turntable shaft H5 is also driven from the of an auxiliary selector rod 54. A spring 55 sur rounds the rod 54 and tends to urge it into inwardly extended position and the rod is limited in its inward movement by a snap washer 56.

The plate 53 carries a locking rod 51 which is likewise slidably mounted in the chassis, thus preventing rotation of the rod 54.

When the stop arm 25 becomes engaged with the selector element 52, it will be seen thatthe cancelling bracket assembly I3 is caused to cease its rotation in exactly the same manner as when it engages with the manually operated selector elements I0.

When the stop arm is engaged with the element 52, the particular position of the shaft I2 will cause, in theconventional manner, the playing of a pre-seiected record. When the stop arm is in normal condition, as shown in Figure 2, it will cause the phonograph to play whatever records are manually selected by pushing in the elements I0 in the customary manner.

It will readily be apparent that when, for example, a player has selected five records to be played by means of having deposited the necessary coins in the standard coil controlled apparatus and having pressed the, proper number of selector elements I0, that if, for example, the

phonograph is playing the second of the series of the manually selected records, when the timing device acts in the manner above set forth, the

present invention will not interfere with the continued playing of such second record but will allow the same 'to complete its cycle and will thereupon interrupt the playing-of the series to the extent of playing the pre-selected record and will thereupon complete the playing of the series when the arm 25 is returned automatically to its normal position, as shown in Figure 2, by utilizing the action of the arm 44 moving the concelling bracket assembly I3 in the conventional manner.

The arm 25 is returned to the normal position shown in Figure 2 by the bar 46 moving the actuating arm 38 to the position shown in Figure 3 through the movement of the cancelling bracket assembly I3, thus causing an upward movement of the resetting arm 34 through the movement of the pin 33 and at the same time causing the depending lug 35 to raise the arm 25 by means of the stud 31 and in this manner allowing the latch to again assume its normal position due to the action of the spring 40.

It will also be readily apparent to those skilled 'in this art that the principle herein disclosed,

namely that of automatically removing the stop mechanism from its normal position so that it may be engaged eliewhere without interference with the manual operation of the phonograph position with relation to the playing mechanism I and thus causing the phonograph to play periodicallya predetermined record, is capable of modifications with respect to other conventional and I43 (Figure 9).

parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims herein made.

One such modification is illustrated in Figures L 7-13, and will now be described. Referring to motor shaft III in any suitable manner, the particular means employed for this purpose forming no part of the present invention. Similarly, the tone arm H6 is carried on a shaft H1 which is driven from the motor shaft I II in the conventional manner, the details of which form no part of the present invention. I

The motor, the several shafts mentioned above, and the mechanism to be hereinafter described, are supported in conventional fashion on a frame designated generally by the reference character II8. A plurality of phonograph records are supported on record carriers II9 which are slidably mounted in a framework I20, and are adapted to be shifted into and out of playing position by mechanism now to be described. The latter mechanism comprises generally a guide bar I2 I 'secured at its respective ends to the frame I I8, and a shifting frame I22 which is slidably mounted on the guide bar I2I and is adapted to be reciprocated thereon by means of a crank 123 secured on the cam shaft H4, and pitman I24, pivotally connected to the shifting frame I22 and having a lost motion connection with the crank I23 as at I 25. The shifting frame I22 is provided with an upwardly extending bracket I26 to which are secured a plurality of spring arms I21, one for each record carrier II9, the details of which are best seen in Figure 12. Each spring arm I21 is provided with a catch I28 pivotally secured thereto and adapted for engagement with a lug I29 provided on the edge of each record carrier H9, as hereinafter described.

A reciprocating member I30 has a pin and slot connection on a bracket I3I depending from the frame H8, and is normally urged to the left (Figure '1) by a spring I32. At its opposite end, the member I30 is pinned to a segment gear I33, which is pivoted as at I34 to the vertical portion of a bracket I35 formed on or secured to the frame II 8. The member I30 is formed with a downwardly extending bracket I36 provided at its lower end with a cam follower roller I31 for engagement with the cam I38 secured on cam shaft II4. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that as the cam shaft II4 rotates the member I30 is first forced to the right against the tension of spring I32 and is then retracted to the left by said spring, oscillating the segment gear I33 as it movesback and forth. This movement takes place once during each cycle of the cam shaft I I4 and hence once during each complete cycle .of operation of the phonograph, including the record selecting mechanism.

The segment gear I33 meshes with a pinion is journalled in the laterally extending portion of v the bracket I35 and in a second bracket I35 dein orderto become engaged in a predetermined 7 pending from the frame I20. A vertical shaft I4I, supported on and journalled in a laterally extending portion of. the bracket I35 is driven from the shaft I40 by means of bevelled gears I42 The shaft I 4| is provided with a spiral series of arms I45, each of which .the record carriers the shafts I40 and ISI.

carries a small roller I46 at its outer end, each roller I46 being disposed at the level of one of H9. A clutch plate I41, Loosely mounted on the shaft I40, carries a spring-pressed dog I48, the nose of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion I39 so that theplate I41 will be positively rotated by the pinion I30 in one direction, but will remain stationary when the pinion I39 rotates in the opposite direction. Plate I41 also carries a friction element comprising a short coil spring I49, the

coils of which embrace a friction sleeve I50 secured on the shaft I40.

A selector shaft I5I (Figures 8 and 11) is driven from the shaft I40 by means of gears I52 and I53, and is provided with a spiral series of projections I54, each such projection corresponding to one of the record carriers H9, and likewise to one of the rollers I46 carried on the shaft I4I.-

Pivoted adjacent the selector shaft .I5I and extending outwardly through the front wall I55 of the phonograph casing there are disposed a plurality of selector elements I56 which are adapted to selectively engage the projections I54 on the selector shaft I5I for the purpose of halting the rotation of the latter at a predetermined point for the purpose of selecting the desired record.

Each selector element I56 is provided with a downwardly extending projection I51 for engagement with the corresponding projection I54 of the selector shaft, the several selector elements being maintained in elevated or depressed position by frictional means (not shown). In the normal operation of the machine, when the motor IIO is-energizedby thedeposit of a coin or otherwise, the cam shaft H4 is caused to rotate, which in turn causes the cam I38'to engage cam follower, I31, causing the member I to be reciprocated. This movement of the member I30'oscillates the segment gear I33, rotating If one of the selector elements I56 has been depressed, the projection I51 of such element will extend into the path of the corresponding projection I54 on the selector shaft I5I, and when the projection I54 engages the projection I51, the shaft I5I is brought to a stop, the pinion I39 and the'clutch plate I41 being permitted to continue to rotate, by reason of the slip clutch previously described, to the full extent caused by the outward movement of the member I30.

As the selector shaft I5I, shaft I and shaft I4I are all positively interconnected by gearing, it will be obvious that the shaft I4I will rotate to exactly the same extent as the shaft I5I, thus positioning-the appropriate arm I45 and roller I46 towards the carrier II9 for the selected rec- ;ord. At the same time, the rotation of the cam shaf II4 causes the shifting frame I22 to move to t, e right, and as the spring arm I21 corresponding to the selected record passes beneath that roller [46 which extends directly toward the record carrierS as illustrated in Figure 12, the catch I28 is'forced into position to engage the lug .I20 on its retractive movement. Thus, as the frame I22 reaches the extent of its movement and starts to the left, the catch I28 engages the carrier of the selected record and moves it to the leftinto playing position. The record carrier remains in this position as the turntable is raised, engaging the record and moving it upward into engagement with the tone arm. After this movement has been completed, the rotation of the cam shaft II4 ceases, the rotation of the motor shaft m and turntable shaft us being permitteduto continue until the record has been played. The details of the mechanism for carrying out these latter operations form no part of the present invention and will not be described herein., Upon the initiation of the next cycle of operation, for example by the deposit of a further coin, the carrier for the last record played is returned to normal position when the frame I22 moves to the right, a projection I56 on the frame I22 engaging the lug I29'of the carrier for that purpose.

A feature of the conventional machine of the type in question resides in the means whereby the manually operated selector elementsare raised out of operative position after the records to which they correspond have been played. Such means comprise an arm "I secured on the cam shaft H4 and provided on its end with a roller I12. The shaft I5I is journalled in arms I60 which are secured to rod I14 journalled in brackets I15 depending from the frame H8. The rod I14 carries a depending arm I16 formed with a cam surface I11 for engagement with the roller I12. The brackets I15 are provided, at their lower ends, with stop members I13 for supporting the arms I60 and selector shaft I5I .in normal position. At the desired point in the rotation of the cam shaft II4 the roller I12 carried on the arm III engages the depending arm I16 and rocks it slightly in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 11. By this movement the rod I14 is rocked, raising the shaft I5I slightly and thus elevating any selector element I56 which happens to be in engagement with a i projection I54 on the shaft I5I. The shaft I5I is provided with a flexible coupling indicated generally at I11 to permit of this movement.

The foregoing operations are conventional,

,portion I5I' which carries the projections I54 may move longitudinally with respect to the portion I5I". A helical spring I59 .is interposed between the left-handarm I60, in which shaft I5I is journalled, and a collar I6I secured on the shaft portion I5I' and urges the shaft portion I5I' to the left in Figure 8. In accordance with the present invention, one. of the usual selector elements I56 is removed from the machine or is rendered inoperative, and an auxiliary selector element I62 is secured in a position in which it is normally outside of the orbit of the nearest projection I54 on the shaft I5I.

Mounted on a bracket suitably supported on the frame magnet I63, the armature I64 of which is secured on a pivoted latch member I65. The latter is normally maintained in elevated position by means of a tension spring I66. An arm I61 pivoted on the opposite side of the magnet I63 is provided with a slot through which'the latch member I65 extends, and is normally maintained in the position-illustrated in Figure 8 by en-.

gagement with'the latch member. A leaf spring I60 carriedby the arm I61, engages the collar I60, and normally maintains the shaft portion I5I' in its right hand position as illustrated in Figure IIB there is provided an electro-- 8, wherein the projections I54 are aligned with the selector elements I 56. A bell crank lever I69 pivotally supported in the frame of the machine, has one arm extending to a point above the arm I60, and a depending arm provided at its lower end with a stop screw I10, the end of which engages the leaf spring I68 carried by the arm I61.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the magnet I63 is energized, attracting the armature I64, the latch member I 65 will. be depressed, releasing the arm I61 and thereby releasing the pressure on the collar I6l, permitting the spring I59 to move the shaft portion I5I' to the left to such an extent that the projections I54 are moved out of alignment with the selector elements I56 and the left hand projection I54 is moved into alignment with the fixed auxiliary selector element I62. Thus, when the phonograph is energized, by means to be hereinafter described, the magnet I63 being simultaneously energized, the shaft portion I5I' is moved to the left and the shaft I5I is caused to rotate until the projection I 54' engages the auxiliary selector element I62, which corresponds to the predetermined record which it is-desired to play at certain intervals. Thus, the predetermined record will be played regardless whether any or all of the manually operated selector elements I56 have been depressed.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, when the shaft I5I is raised in the manner described above, to reset the manual selector elements, the arm I60 engages the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever I69, rocking the latter in a counterclockwise direction, which causes the arm I61 to be moved to the right past the shoulder of the latch member I65. The latter then springs up and engages the outer surface of the arm I61, looking it in normal position. By the same movement, the leaf spring I68 urges the shaft portion I5I' toward the right, into normal position, against the pressure of the spring I59. The entire mechanism is thus returned to normal position after each operation of the auxiliary mechanism provided by the present invention.

The electrical circuits employed in connection with the present modification are illustrated in Fig. 13 and are similar to those employed in connection with the modification of Figures l-6 with the exception that a cam operated switch is interposed between the timing device and the electromagnet I63, to prevent the operation of the latter during the short interval when a record is being changed, thus preventing possible damage to the apparatus, or a possible failure of the device for playing a pre-selected record in accordance with the present invention. The cam switch referred to comprises a pair of spring contact arms I80 and I 8I, the upper arm having revolution. In the event that the timing device operates to close the circuit during the brief period when the contact arms I80 and I8I are disengaged, the current impulse fronizthe timing device will be ofsufiicient duration "to extend beyond such brief interval and energize the magnet I63 after the contact arms I80 and I8I have been permitted toengage by, rotation of the can I 82.

The principle of operation of the modification just described is identical with that of the modification of Figures 1-6. That is to say, the timing device will periodically close the circuit'to the starting device and also to the magnet I63, thus energizing the motor-I I0 and the magnet. The selector shaft I5I will thus be caused to rotate, the shaft portion I5I first being moved to the left so as to move the projections I54 out of alignment with the manually operated selector elements and the projection I 54' ,into align ment with the fixed auxiliary selector element I62. Thus, each time the device is so energized, the record corresponding to the fixed selector element l62 will be caused to play, after which the apparatus will be returned to normal condition so that any of the remaining records may be manually selected and played.

The term record, as employed in the foregoing description and in the appended'claims, is intended to refer to sound recordings generally, whether such record takes the form of a disc, cylinder, ribbon, film, or any other known type of sound record adapted for reproduction by a phonograph or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by an extension which engages the periphery of a cam I82 carried-by the cam shaft H4. The

cam I82 is so formed that during that portion of the rotation of the cam shaft H4 in which the record changing operation takes place, the

contact arm I80 is maintained out of engagement with contact arm I8I. When the cam shaft II4 comes to rest, the contact arm I 00 is permitted, by thefiattened side of the cam I 82,v to engage the contact arm I8I, closing the circuit from the timing device to the magnet I03.

Thus the magnet is capable of being energized by operation of the timing device at all times except during the brief interval in which the cam shaft II4 describes a portion of a single Letters Patent is:

1.,In an automatic phonograph of the type having a plurality of records and'means for selecting and playingsaid records, said selecting means comprising a movable member and a plurality of manually operative selector elements cooperative with said movable member for selectively limiting the movement of the latter, a projection on said movable member adapted to move in. an orbit, and means for periodically causing said movable member to move into a predetermined position corresponding to one of said records, said last means comprising means for periodically actuating said movable member,

an auxiliary selector element arranged outside of the normal orbit of said projection, and automatic means for altering the orbit of said projection'to cause the latter to engage said auxiliary selector element.

2. In an automatic phonograph of the type having a plurality of records and means for selecting and playing said records, said selecting means comprising a selector shaft adapted by the extent of its rotation to control the selection of .a record, an arm carried by said selector shaft and adapted to move in an orbit, and a plurality of manually operative selector elements adapted to be selectively disposed in said orbit, anv auxil-- iary selector element arranged outside of said orbit, a motor for driving the moving parts of said phonograph including said selector shaft, means for periodically energizing said motor, and means for simultaneously altering the position of said arm to cause it to move in an orbit which excludes said manually operative selector elements and includes said auxiliary selector element.

3. In an automatic phonograph of the type having a plurality of records and means for of manually operative selector elements adapted tobe selectively disposed in said orbit, an auxiliary selector element arranged outside ,of said orbit, a motor for said phonograph including said selector shaft driving the moving parts of means for periodically energizing said motor, and

means for simultaneously altering the position of said arm to cause it to move in an orbit which excludes said manually operative selector elements and includes said auxiliary selector element, said last means including spring means for urging said arm toward its altered position, a latch member adapted normally to maintain said arm in its normal position, and an electromagnet for actuating said latch to permit said arm to move to its altered position.

4. In a device according to claim 3, an electric circuit including a source of power and said electromagnet, a second circuit including a source of power and .a magazine switch, and a timing device adapted to periodically, simultaneously and momentarily close said circuits.

5. In an. automatic phonograph of the. type having a plurality of records adapted to be selectively played, record selecting means comprising a movable'member having a plurality of projections thereon adapted to move in separate orbits, a plurality of manually operative selector elements cooperative with the projections on said movable member for selectively limiting the movement. of the latter according to the record selected, and auxiliary selector element disposed outside the normal orbits of said projections,

' shifting it to cause the selected, an auxiliary selector element disposed outside the normal orbits of said projections, and means for actuating said movable member and orbit of one of said projections to intersect .said auxiliary selector element, whereby said last-mentioned projection is caused to engage said auxiliary selector element. '7. A device according to claim 5, said last means comprising a motor for driving said phonograph including said record selecting mechanism,. a magazine switch for controlling the supply of energy to said motor, spring means for shifting said movable member, latch means for maintaining said movable member in normal position, an electromagnet for releasing said latch means, and a timing device adapted to simultaneously close the circuits to said magazine switch and said electromagnet.

8. A device according to claim 5, said last means comprising" a motor for driving said phonograph including said record selecting mechanism, amagazine switch for controlling the supply of energy to said motor, spring means for shifting said movable member, latch means for maintaining said movable member in normal position, an electromagnet for releasing said latch means, a timing device adapted to simultaneously close the circuits to said magazine switch and said electromagnet, and a switch in series with said electromagnet and controlled by the record selecting mechanism to open the electromagnet circuit during record-changing operations.

9. In an automatic phonograph of the type having a plurality of records and means for selecting and playing said records, a frame, a

and means for actuating said movable member and shifting it to cause the orbit of one of said projections to intersect said auxiliary selector element, whereby said last-mentioned projection is caused to engage said auxiliary selector element.

phonograph of the typ to the record said manually operable selector member rotata'bly supported on said frame, a plurality of manually operable selector elements movably mounted on said frame and adapted to be moved into engageable relation to said rotatable member for limiting the rotation of the latter according to the record selected, an auxiliary selector element supported on said frame adjacent said rotatable member in such relation thereto as not to be engageable therewith during normal operation of said rotatable member, and means for periodically shifting said rotatable member out of engageable relation to selector elements and into engageable relation to said auxiliary selector element, and energizing said rotatable member.

' NORBERT C.CUMMINGS. 

